Cloud services have long been an integral part of the modern gadget ecosystem, and Xiaomi is no exception. Xiaomi Cloud is a proprietary cloud storage that is integrated into all the brand’s devices, from Redmi and POCO to Mi Band smartwatches and routers. But what exactly is behind this name? Why do millions of users trust it with their photos, contacts and passwords, and some prefer to turn off the service immediately after buying a phone?
In this article, we will take a look at how Xiaomi Cloud works, what features it offers (including little-known ones), how to set up sync and backup, and answer key security questions. You will learn how this service differs from Google Drive or iCloud, how much extra space costs, and how to recover data if your phone is lost or broken.
What is Xiaomi Cloud and Why You Need It?
Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud in older versions of the software) is a cloud service from Xiaomi that performs four key functions:
- 🔄 Synchronize data between devices (contacts, notes, call history, messages).
- 📱 Backup of phone settings, apps, and media.
- 🔍 Search for a device in case of loss or theft (with lock and clean function).
- 🔒 Store passwords and keys for smart homes (compatible with Mi Home).
The main advantage of the service is deep integration with MIUI firmware. For example, if you change your smartphone to a new Xiaomi model, you can recover all data in a few minutes just by logging in to your account. Xiaomi Cloud works not only on phones: it syncs data from Pad tablets, Mi Notebook laptops, and even smart devices like light bulbs or vacuum cleaners.
However, the service has its drawbacks: First, free storage is limited to 5 GB (versus 15 GB for Google Drive); second, some features (like device search) require an active Internet connection; and third, Xiaomi collects anonymous data about its use, which raises questions among users concerned about privacy.
How to Sign Up and Sign In to Xiaomi Cloud
To use Xiaomi Cloud, you need a Mi Account, and if you already have a Xiaomi smartphone, you probably created it when you first turned it on.
- Open Settings → Mi Account on your device.
- Click Login or Register.
- Enter a valid email or phone number (confirmation will come by SMS or letter).
- Create a strong password (at least 8 characters, with numbers and capital letters).
- Confirm registration via email or SMS.
After registration, the account will automatically be linked to Xiaomi Cloud. To check this, go to Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account.
- 📊 Storage usage statistics (how much is occupied and how much is free).
- 🔧 List of devices associated with the account.
- ⚙️ Synchronization settings for each data type (contacts, photos, notes, etc.).
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If you have forgotten the password from Mi Account, you can restore it through the site account.xiaomi.com. You will need access to the email or phone number specified during registration.
Important: you can use one Mi Account on multiple devices, but only one session can be active in Xiaomi Cloud at a time, for example, if you log in to an account on a new phone, the old one will automatically log out (if you don’t turn this option off in the security settings).
Xiaomi Cloud Features: From Synchronization to Device Search
Xiaomi Cloud offers more than 10 different features, but most users only use 2-3 of them.
| Function | Description | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Synchronization of contacts | Automatic backup and update contacts on all devices. | It works even if the phone is turned off (on the next Internet connection). |
| Backup | Saving system settings, applications and user data. | You can choose which data to include in the backup (for example, exclude the cache of applications). |
| Photographs and videos | Automatically upload media files to the cloud. | There is an option to download only over Wi-Fi, so as not to waste mobile traffic. |
| Searching device | Location of the phone, locking or clearing data remotely. | Requires GPS enabled and internet access on the lost device. |
| Notes and notes | Synchronize notes from the Mi Notes app. | Supports text formatting and image insertion. |
One of the most useful but little-known features is Wi-Fi password synchronization, which means that if you connect to the network on one Xiaomi device, the password will be automatically pulled on another device (with the same Mi Account), which works for both guest networks and hidden access points.
Another hidden feature is remote device management, and not only can you find your phone on the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (cloud.mi.com), but you can also:
- 🔊 Turn on the beep (even if the phone is silent).
- 📱 Lock the screen with the message output (e.g., "Back the phone, reward 5000 ₽").
- 🧹 Delete all data from the device (full reset to factory settings).
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The Find Device function works even if the SIM- card is removed, but the phone must be connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network.
How much does Xiaomi Cloud cost: tariffs and free space
By default, each user is provided with 5 GB of free storage, which is enough for:
- 📞 ~2000 contacts;
- 📸 ~1000 photos in compressed format
- 📝 ~500 notes with attachments;
- 🔄 1-2 full smartphone backups (excluding media files).
If 5 GB is not enough, you can buy additional space. Current tariffs (for 2026) for Russia and CIS countries:
| Storage volume | Monthly cost | Cost per year (discounted) |
|---|---|---|
| 50GB | ~99 ₽ | ~990 ₽ (savings 17%) |
| 200GB | ~299 ₽ | ~2 990 ₽ (savings of 15%) |
| 2 TB | ~999 ₽ | ~9990 ₽ (savings of 10%) |
You can pay by credit card, Google Pay, or Mi Wallet balance. Importantly, when you pay through the App Store (on the iPhone), the price may be higher due to Apple fees. Xiaomi periodically holds promotions when you can buy annual storage at a discount of up to 50%. For example, on Black Friday 2023, 200 GB was only 1,490 ₽ per year.
How to get an extra seat for free?
If you stop paying for your subscription, you will:
- ✅ Your data will stay in the cloud, but you won’t be able to add new files.
- ❌ After 6 months without payment, Xiaomi can delete files that exceed the 5GB limit.
- ⚠️ Device backups are stored only 30 days after the subscription expires, then deleted.
How to Disable Xiaomi Cloud and Delete Data
If you choose to abandon Xiaomi Cloud (for example, due to privacy concerns or space shortages), it can be disabled in whole or in part.
Open Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account
Select "Synchronization" and disable unnecessary options
To completely disable, click "Exit from Mi Account" (delete all local data)
Remove backups manually through Settings → Memory → Backups
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To remove all data from the cloud, follow the following steps:
- Go to cloud.mi.com and log in to your account.
- Open the Storage Management section.
- Select the data category (e.g., “Photos” or “Contacts”).
- Click Remove All and confirm the action.
⚠️ Warning: Deleted data cannot be recovered! If you accidentally cleared contacts or photos, try to restore them from a local backup on your phone (folder MIUI/Backup/AllBackup).
If you are selling or transferring a device to another person, be sure to log out of your Mi Account and reset to factory settings, otherwise the new owner will be able to:
- 📍 Track your location through Find Device.
- 📞 Access synchronized contacts and messages.
- 🔑 Restore your backups on your phone.
Security and privacy: What Xiaomi knows about you
Xiaomi Cloud uses encryption for data transmission (TLS 1.2+) and storage (AES-256 standard), but like any cloud service, it collects certain information about users. According to Xiaomi’s privacy policy (updated in 2023), the company can store:
- 📱 Device model, version MIUI, serial number.
- 🌍 Approximate location (by IP- address).
- 📊 Usage statistics (which cloud features you include).
- 🔑 Logs of authorization (time and place of login to the account).
Important: Xiaomi claims that it does not sell personal data to third parties, but may share anonymous statistics with partners (for example, to improve services).
- Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your account.
⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi was investigated in the EU in 2021 for allegedly transferring user data to servers in China, denied the allegations and moved European user data processing to servers in Singapore and Russia, but if you store sensitive information in the cloud (such as document scans), it’s best to use additional encryption (such as archiving password files before downloading).
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even a well-functioning service like Xiaomi Cloud sometimes fails, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts are not synchronized | Synchronization in the settings is disabled | Go to Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud → Sync and enable the “Contacts” option. |
| Photos are not uploaded | Not enough space or a weak internet | Check the storage limit and Wi-Fi connection. Also try manually running the download in the gallery (Albums → Cloud). |
| "Find the device" doesn't work. | Geolocation is disabled or the Internet is not | Make sure your lost phone is powered up with GPS and mobile data, and check if your battery is running out. |
| Authorization error | Server failure or account blocking | Try resetting your password through account.xiaomi.com. If your account is blocked, contact support. |
If none of the solutions worked, try the following steps:
- Reset the device.
- Update the Mi Cloud app to the latest version in Google Play or App Gallery.
- Clear the app cache in Settings → Applications → Mi Cloud → Storage.
- If you have a problem with synchronization, untie your account and log in again.
If you encounter an error that failed to connect to the server, it may be due to:
- 🌍 Regional restrictions (e.g. if you are traveling and using a local SIM- card).
- 🛡️ Firewall or VPN blocking (some corporate networks block access to Xiaomi servers).
- ⏳ Technical work on the Xiaomi side (check the status of services on status.mi.com).